Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement to the 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines, Oregon, Washington, and California, 38601-38602 [E6-10541]

Download as PDF cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 130 / Friday, July 7, 2006 / Notices 1968, Davis-Bacon Act, Historic Preservation Act, Environmental Policy Act, and to conform to Executive Orders governing use of Federal funds. This information is cleared through the appropriate enforcing Agency or other executive Department. The Agencies provide forms and/or guidelines to assist in the collection and submission of information; however, most of the information may be collected and submitted in the form and content which is accepted and typically used in normal conduct of planning and performing development work in private industry when a private lender is financing the activity. The information is usually submitted via hand delivery or U.S. Postal Service to the appropriate Agency office. Electronic submittal of information is also possible through e-mail or USDA’s Service Center eForms Web site. The information is used by the Agencies to determine whether a loan/ grant can be approved, to ensure that the Agency has adequate security for the loans financed, to provide for sound construction and development work, and to determine that the requirements of the applicable acts have been met. The information is also used to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the Agencies’ loan/grant programs and to monitor the prudent use of Federal funds. If the information were not collected and submitted, the Agencies would not have control over the type and quality of construction and development work planned and performed with Federal funds. The Agencies would not be assured that the security provided for loans is adequate, nor would the Agencies be certain that decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling or other adequate structures were being provided to rural residents as required by the different acts. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .33 hours per response. Respondents: Individuals or households, farms, business or other forprofit, non-profit institutions, and small businesses or organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,340. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15. Estimated Number of Responses: 368,980. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 118,438 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Brigitte Sumter, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692–0042. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:46 Jul 06, 2006 Jkt 208001 38601 Comments ACTION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the Agencies, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agencies’ estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Brigitte Sumter, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Stop 0742, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–0742. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600–1614 et seq.), the USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (collectively the Agencies) have prepared a Draft Supplement to the 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines (Draft Supplement). The Final Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines (2004 FSEIS), dated January 2004, examined the environmental effects of a proposal by the Agencies to amend 28 land and resource management plans on National Forests and Bureau of Land Management Districts within the range of the northern spotted owl in western Oregon, western Washington, and northern California. The Draft Supplement is available for public review. DATES: Written comments on the Draft Supplement will be accepted for 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement in the Federal Register. The Agencies ask that those submitting comments on the Draft Supplement make these comments as specific as possible with reference to page numbers and chapters of the document. Dated: June 30, 2006. Russell T. Davis, Administrator, Rural Housing Service. Dated: June 30, 2006. David Rouzer, Acting Administrator, Rural BusinessCooperative Service. Dated: June 30, 2006. Curtis Anderson, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. Dated: June 30, 2006. John Williams, Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. 06–6031 Filed 7–6–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [OR–930–6310–PN–LITU; HAG 06–0114] Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement to the 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines, Oregon, Washington, and California AGENCIES: USDA, Forest Service; DOI, Bureau of Land Management. PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice of availability. If you wish to comment, you may submit your written comments to Survey and Manage SEIS Team, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208, or via e-mail to ORSMSEIS@blm.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Haske, Chief, Branch of Forest Resources and Special Status Species, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208, telephone (503) 808–6038 or Alan Christensen, Group Leader, Wildlife, Fisheries, Watershed, Soils and Range, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97208, telephone (503) 808–2922. Requests to receive copies of the Draft Supplement should be sent to the address listed above. Alternately, the Draft Supplement is available on the Internet at https://www.reo.gov/s-m2006. Copies are also available for inspection at USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management offices in western ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\07JYN1.SGM 07JYN1 cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 38602 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 130 / Friday, July 7, 2006 / Notices Washington, western Oregon and northern California. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January 2004, the Agencies approved the 2004 FSEIS analyzing a proposal to amend 28 land and resource management plans by removing the Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines, to conserve rare and little known species, and reduce cost and effort and allow for achievement of healthy forests and timber outputs. The Agencies released a Record of Decision adopting the proposal in March, 2004. In August, 2005 the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington found the 2004 FSEIS failed to: (1) ‘‘* * * analyze potential impacts to Survey and Manage species if they are not added to or are removed from the USDA Forest Service’s and BLM’s respective programs for special status species;’’ (2) ‘‘* * * provide a thorough analysis of their assumption that the latesuccessional reserves would adequately protect species that the Survey and Manage standard was introduced to protect, particularly in light of their previous positions in earlier environmental impact statements;’’ and (3) ‘‘* * * disclose and analyze flaws in their methodology for calculating the acreage in need of hazardous fuel treatments. Part of the cost analysis was similarly flawed because it relied on the acreage in need of hazardous fuel treatments in calculating the cost of the Survey and Manage standard.’’ The Draft Supplement provides the additional information and analysis to address the deficiencies noted by the court, and provides and analyzes new information available since publication of the 2004 FSEIS. Following public comments, the Agencies will prepare a Final Supplement. No sooner than 30 days following release of the Final Supplement, the Agencies will prepare a new Record of Decision. A decision to select one of the action alternatives would amend the management direction in 28 land and resource management plans in the Northwest Forest Plan area. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public review during regular business hours. Comments, including names and addresses, may be published as part of the Final Supplement. If you wish to withhold your name or address from public review, or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comments. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:46 Jul 06, 2006 Jkt 208001 Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request that submissions be withheld from the public record by showing how the FOIA permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The requester will be informed of the Agencies’ decision regarding the request for confidentiality. Where the request is denied, the comments will be returned to the requester and the requester will be notified that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered, however, anonymous comments do not create standing or a record of participation. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety. The Agencies believe it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. Reviewers should structure their participation so that it is meaningful to alert the Agencies of their positions and contentions [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the Draft Supplement stage, but are not raised until after completion of the Final Supplement, may be waived or dismissed by the courts [City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of these court rulings, it is important that those interested in this proposed action provide comments by the close of the 90-day comment period, so that the Agencies can meaningfully consider and respond to them in the Final Supplement. The responsible official for lands administered by the USDA Forest Service will be the Secretary of Agriculture. The responsible official for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management will be the Secretary of the Interior. No public hearings or meetings are planned. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: June 30, 2006. Cynthia Ellis, Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC. Dated: June 30, 2006. Andria Weeks, Regulatory Liaison Officer, United States Forest Service, Washington, DC. [FR Doc. E6–10541 Filed 7–6–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–33–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Fishlake National Forest, Utah, EIS for Oil and Gas Leasing Forest Service, USDA and Bureau of Land Management, USDI. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Forest Service of the Fishlake National Forest gives notice of the intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental and human effects of oil and gas leasing on lands administered by the Fishlake National Forest. The Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 (FOOGLRA) requires the Forest Service to evaluate National Forest System lands for potential oil and gas leasing. As the agency responsible for lease issuance and administration, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will participate as a cooperating agency. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received by August 10, 2006 to be most helpful. The draft environmental impact statement is scheduled for completion by the winter of 2006, and the final environmental impact statement is expected before summer of 2007. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Carter Reed, Oil and Gas Team Leader, Fishlake National Forest, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 84701; phone: (435) 636–3547; fax: (435) 896–0347; email comments-intermtnfishlake@fs.fed.us. Please include ‘‘Oil and Gas Leasing Analysis Project’’ on the subject line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Davida Carnahan, Public Affairs Officer, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 84701; phone: (435) 896–1070. For technical information contact: Carter Reed, Oil and Gas Team Leader, (435) 636–3547. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action FOOGLRA requires the Forest Service to evaluate National Forest System E:\FR\FM\07JYN1.SGM 07JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 130 (Friday, July 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38601-38602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10541]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-930-6310-PN-LITU; HAG 06-0114]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement to the 2004 Final 
Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and 
Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines, Oregon, Washington, 
and California

AGENCIES: USDA, Forest Service; DOI, Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and the 
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614 et 
seq.), the USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 
(collectively the Agencies) have prepared a Draft Supplement to the 
2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the 
Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines (Draft 
Supplement). The Final Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or 
Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and 
Guidelines (2004 FSEIS), dated January 2004, examined the environmental 
effects of a proposal by the Agencies to amend 28 land and resource 
management plans on National Forests and Bureau of Land Management 
Districts within the range of the northern spotted owl in western 
Oregon, western Washington, and northern California.
    The Draft Supplement is available for public review.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft Supplement will be accepted for 90 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
the Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement in the Federal 
Register. The Agencies ask that those submitting comments on the Draft 
Supplement make these comments as specific as possible with reference 
to page numbers and chapters of the document.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your written comments 
to Survey and Manage SEIS Team, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208, 
or via e-mail to ORSMSEIS@blm.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Haske, Chief, Branch of Forest 
Resources and Special Status Species, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. 
Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208, telephone (503) 808-6038 or Alan 
Christensen, Group Leader, Wildlife, Fisheries, Watershed, Soils and 
Range, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97208, 
telephone (503) 808-2922.
    Requests to receive copies of the Draft Supplement should be sent 
to the address listed above. Alternately, the Draft Supplement is 
available on the Internet at https://www.reo.gov/s-m2006. Copies are 
also available for inspection at USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land 
Management offices in western

[[Page 38602]]

Washington, western Oregon and northern California.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January 2004, the Agencies approved the 
2004 FSEIS analyzing a proposal to amend 28 land and resource 
management plans by removing the Survey and Manage Standards and 
Guidelines, to conserve rare and little known species, and reduce cost 
and effort and allow for achievement of healthy forests and timber 
outputs. The Agencies released a Record of Decision adopting the 
proposal in March, 2004. In August, 2005 the U.S. District Court of the 
Western District of Washington found the 2004 FSEIS failed to: (1) ``* 
* * analyze potential impacts to Survey and Manage species if they are 
not added to or are removed from the USDA Forest Service's and BLM's 
respective programs for special status species;'' (2) ``* * * provide a 
thorough analysis of their assumption that the late-successional 
reserves would adequately protect species that the Survey and Manage 
standard was introduced to protect, particularly in light of their 
previous positions in earlier environmental impact statements;'' and 
(3) ``* * * disclose and analyze flaws in their methodology for 
calculating the acreage in need of hazardous fuel treatments. Part of 
the cost analysis was similarly flawed because it relied on the acreage 
in need of hazardous fuel treatments in calculating the cost of the 
Survey and Manage standard.'' The Draft Supplement provides the 
additional information and analysis to address the deficiencies noted 
by the court, and provides and analyzes new information available since 
publication of the 2004 FSEIS.
    Following public comments, the Agencies will prepare a Final 
Supplement. No sooner than 30 days following release of the Final 
Supplement, the Agencies will prepare a new Record of Decision. A 
decision to select one of the action alternatives would amend the 
management direction in 28 land and resource management plans in the 
Northwest Forest Plan area. Comments received in response to this 
solicitation, including names and addresses, will be considered part of 
the public record on this proposal and will be available for public 
review during regular business hours. Comments, including names and 
addresses, may be published as part of the Final Supplement. If you 
wish to withhold your name or address from public review, or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your written comments. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. Additionally, 
pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request that submissions be 
withheld from the public record by showing how the FOIA permits such 
confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be 
aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only 
limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The requester 
will be informed of the Agencies' decision regarding the request for 
confidentiality. Where the request is denied, the comments will be 
returned to the requester and the requester will be notified that the 
comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address. Comments 
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered, however, 
anonymous comments do not create standing or a record of participation. 
All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    The Agencies believe it is important to give reviewers notice of 
several court rulings related to public participation in the 
environmental review process. Reviewers should structure their 
participation so that it is meaningful to alert the Agencies of their 
positions and contentions [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 
435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. Also, environmental objections that could be 
raised at the Draft Supplement stage, but are not raised until after 
completion of the Final Supplement, may be waived or dismissed by the 
courts [City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th cir. 1986) 
and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. 
Wis. 1980)]. Because of these court rulings, it is important that those 
interested in this proposed action provide comments by the close of the 
90-day comment period, so that the Agencies can meaningfully consider 
and respond to them in the Final Supplement.
    The responsible official for lands administered by the USDA Forest 
Service will be the Secretary of Agriculture. The responsible official 
for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management will be 
the Secretary of the Interior.
    No public hearings or meetings are planned.

    Dated: June 30, 2006.
Cynthia Ellis,
Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC.

    Dated: June 30, 2006.
Andria Weeks,
Regulatory Liaison Officer, United States Forest Service, Washington, 
DC.
 [FR Doc. E6-10541 Filed 7-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P
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